The plane carrying released Americans has left Iran

The Associated Press reports, citing unnamed American officials, that the plane carrying released American citizens from Tehran has left Iran. These officials stated on Sunday, January 27, that the plane is headed to Switzerland. Switzerland has facilitated this process as the protector of American interests in Iran. American officials told the Associated Press that Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, and Saeed Abedini are on this plane, but Nasratollah Khosravi Roudsari is not. Meanwhile, Iranian television reported the release of four Americans and their departure by plane to Switzerland. According to the Associated Press, the managers of the Washington Post confirmed that Jason Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, 'have safely left Tehran after 545 days of imprisonment in Iran.' On Saturday, it was announced that as part of a prisoner exchange between Tehran and Washington, five American citizens, four of whom hold dual citizenship, would be released from Iranian prisons. At the same time, media reports indicated the exchange of seven Iranian prisoners in America for these individuals. Reports indicate that Matthew Trevithick, an American student, was also released from prison and managed to leave Iran on Saturday night. Reuters, citing an American government official, reported on Saturday, January 26, that the four released American citizens had not yet left Iran. The reason for this was stated to be the need for various logistical actions in cooperation with the Swiss embassy and Iranian officials. Iranian media on Saturday identified seven Iranians who would be released from American prisons during the prisoner exchange as Nader Madanlou, Bahram Mekanik, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahraman, Touraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh, and Ali Saboonchi. According to these reports, most of these individuals were accused of aiding in the violation of Iran's sanctions. At the same time, Reuters reported, citing a senior American official, that Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American director of strategic planning at Crescent Oil Company, who is detained in Iran, was not part of the prisoner exchange program. According to the Associated Press, Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, also expressed satisfaction on Sunday regarding the release of some imprisoned Americans in Iran and welcomed 'any government's actions to improve their relations.' Ban Ki-moon stated, 'I am encouraged by the lifting of sanctions on Iran, and now is the time to advance cooperation to face other challenges through dialogue.' The Secretary-General added, 'This is a process that must be followed to achieve a secure future.' Ban Ki-moon was speaking at the beginning of a meeting to discuss how to improve international humanitarian aid delivery in Dubai.